Six the Musical condemns Dylan Mulvaney bullying after casting backlash

Six the Musical‘s producers have called out people’s “abusive” behaviour after Dylan Mulvaney was announced to be part of the Broadway cast.

On 16 January it was announced that Mulvaney would step into the role of Anne Boleyn. The show follows the six wives of Henry VIII and is based at the Lena Horne Theatre in New York.

As well as Mulvaney, Abigail Barlow is joining as Katherine Howard. Meanwhile, Adrianna Hicks, Anna Uzele, and Olivia Donalson are returning as Catherine of Aragon, Catherine Parr, and Anne of Cleves. The role of Jane Seymour is still to be announced.

However, the joyful news was dashed by a flood of negative comments disparaging the show’s producers and Mulvaney.

Subsequently, producers have put out a statement explaining the “temporary limit” on the Broadway production’s X account following “bullying” comments. The account is still private at the time of writing.

The musical’s Instagram account is still public. However, comments have been turned off on the post announcing Mulvaney’s casting. This is not the case for the rest of the casting announcements. 

As reported by Playbill the statement then says: “The protection, safety, and support of the Six cast has always been, and remains, our highest priority. While we welcome passionate engagement with the show, aggressive, threatening or abusive behaviour is never acceptable.

@pinknews

Actress and author Dylan Mulvaney has defiantly responded to fierce backlash after she was cast in the role of Anne Boleyn in Broadway musical Six. On 16 January, it was announced that Dylan Mulvaney, 29, would be taking on the role of Henry VIII’s second wife Anne Boleyn in Six. The stage show is a modern retelling of the lives of the king’s six wives told via a pop concert. Swiftly after the musical theatre star’s involvement was revealed, she was targeted by anti-trans trolls who raged that the role of a female character had been given to a trans woman. Some fumed about the historical inaccuracy of casting a trans woman as Anne Boleyn, despite musical Six also depicting the six wives of Henry VIII as forming a pop band, which is not believed to have occurred in real life. In Six, the lead characters are also noted as having been inspired by pop icons including Beyoncé, Lily Allen and Britney Spears. It is not believed that Anne Boleyn, born at the turn of the 16th century, was actually inspired by said pop stars. #dylanmulvaney #sixthemusicalcosplay #transwoman #broadway #anneboleyn

♬ original sound – PinkNews 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ – PinkNews 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

“As a production, we unequivocally condemn bullying in all its forms and remain committed to fostering a respectful, supportive environment for everyone involved. We are incredibly excited to welcome our incoming Broadway cast, and we cannot wait to see them take to the stage.”

Mulvaney has also reacted to the backlash over her casting in a TikTok earlier this week.

“Being a trans person in 2026, when this world is working against us in what feels like every way… for me to be able to step out onto a Broadway stage as Anne Boleyn and perform an iconic historical character’s role in a show that is so rooted in celebrating femininity, I think that’s a miracle,” she said.

The model and influencer also shared a hopeful message for trans people. “I just want you to know that you can literally do anything,” she said. “But do not let anyone take away what brings you joy, and you might have to fight really hard for it, or go around the long way, but it is so worth it. And it might not feel like it, but there are so many people cheering you on, and I am one of them.”

Mulvaney will join Six on February 16 at the Lena Horne Theatre.

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.